Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is as slick as alien goo (and that’s a good thing, says our Games critic Peter Hoskin)

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Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (Nintendo Switch, £49.99)

Verdict: More space for Samus

Samus Aran returns in a new game, though she hasn’t been gone long. Her last adventure, the highly-rated Metroid Dread, came out in 2021—only four years ago.

Except we haven’t seen Samus in this incarnation, her Prime incarnation, for a full 18 years.

While traditional Metroid games are fast-paced, action-packed platformers viewed from the side, the Metroid Prime games offer a slower, more immersive experience as a first-person shooter. You’ll spend just as much time discovering the environment as you will battling alien creatures.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen gaming evolve so much over the years! The biggest difference between then and now? Definitely the tech. I recently got my hands on Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, playing it on the new Nintendo Switch 2, and honestly, it was incredibly smooth – a truly immersive experience. It felt as fluid and captivating as the game’s otherworldly setting!

As a longtime fan, I was really impressed with how seamlessly Samus switched between her different forms – fighting, scanning, and even that surprisingly useful roll! It felt so much smoother and more natural than in previous games, which was a huge improvement.

It’s really impressive how easily you can switch between different control options – whether you want to use the Joy-Cons like pointers or as traditional PC mice.

The new console’s increased power has let the designers of Metroid Prime 4 create a more expansive experience. Samus still explores ancient ruins, but now travels between distant areas using a futuristic motorbike, similar to the ones seen in Tron. While not a fully open world, the game features much larger and more connected environments.

Despite its name, Beyond doesn’t really offer a dramatically different experience from the original three Prime games. It still focuses on stealthy exploration, solving puzzles to progress, and occasional intense firefights – it stays true to the core gameplay you already know.

It’s wonderful to rediscover the excitement I felt playing the original games after so many years. Now, I’m really hoping the next Metroid Prime pushes the series – and Samus herself – in exciting new directions.

 

Octopath Traveller 0 (PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, PC, £39.99)

Verdict: The one true path

The name ‘Octopath Traveller’ is a bit unusual, but it actually fits the game perfectly. The two previous games in the series let you follow eight different characters and their interconnected stories as you journey through the world.

However, the original concept feels a little outdated now. Octopath Traveler 0 – which is partially based on a mobile game – centers around one hero tasked with saving the kingdom: you, the destined savior.

Compared to earlier installments, 0 feels more cohesive and less fragmented. While the game’s eight different storylines were ambitious and well-made, they also lessened the impact of the narratives in the first two games. Just when you began to get invested in a particular story, the game would abruptly switch to another.

While the game doesn’t have a huge focus on a small number of main characters, it features a large cast of supporting characters you can enlist. However, most of these side characters aren’t particularly memorable.

Overall, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Having more supporting characters gives you extra allies in the game’s fantastic turn-based combat, which opens up more possibilities for strategy.

One of the best parts about playing this game is discovering what happens when you combine different characters – like seeing how a strong warrior works with a powerful wizard.

Beyond the main adventure, there’s a lot to enjoy, like the fantastic music and gorgeous ‘2D-HD’ visuals. Plus, there’s a whole extra game layered in! After your starting village is ruined, you’ll work to rebuild it between quests, giving your companions a place to call home.

Okay, so it is a big commitment, I won’t lie. But honestly, what else am I going to do with all those long winter hours? Brave the cold? No way – this is the perfect way to spend my time, honestly. It keeps me busy and engaged, and that’s exactly what I need when the weather gets rough.

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2025-12-09 18:52